January

Warburtons’ MD BRETT WARBURTON is to become executive director from April, with current finance director Robert Higginson taking over as MD. Brett Warburton, who has been MD for six years, will now focus on quality and technical matters. Mr Higginson takes up the position following five years as finance director. He will chair the operations board and join the main board of Warburtons.

The new programmable Kemper President Mixer can be used to mix doughs, pastes and batters, says supplier Eurobake (Lostock, Bolton). It also handles a range of volumes and, with an intensive mixing action, the mixer achieves evenly kneaded doughs in a short time, adds the firm.

Stephen Steadman (pictured) took over four Averds shops last year, including one in Mayfield, East Sussex. He also represents Escher Mixers in the UK

When craft bakers buy new machinery, weighing up the competing claims of all the equipment suppliers can prove a headache. Often a quick call to a bakery comrade will cut through the sales pitch and determine the value of a new piece of kit.

No ‘pain’, no gain: Arnaud Delmontel expresses himself through baking at his Paris shop

A few days ago an agenda came through my email for the Retail Confectioners International Convention, which is held in Pennsylvania, the US, in June. I noticed my name was down as a speaker and the topic was The Art of Making Money.

Nantwich-based craft baker Arthur Chatwins has built up a loyal following in the north west over a history that spans nearly 100 years. Its high-quality scratch-baked range of breads, savouries and cakes are popular with customers in 19 bakery shops and five coffee lounges, in the North Staffordshire and South Cheshire area.

Sunday trading is back on the menu in a big way, as the DTI launches a three-month consultation period on extending the hours. If you have strong feelings about this, I really do urge you not only to get your trade association to lobby for you, but also to email Maria.Bazell@dti.gsi.gov.uk. Do it now!

- Trade and Industry Secretary Alan Johnson has announced the appointment of Paul Myners, chairman of the Guardian Media Group, as the new chair of the Low Pay Commission, which advises government on the National Minumum Wage.

Food from Britain (FFB) has promoted JANE WAKELING to head of client development and appointed KIRSTY GRIEVE as regional food and drinks manager. Ms Wakeling leads the organisation’s consulting and will have responsibility for providing FFB clients with strategic and practical support to ensure they gain maximum benefit from FFB’s international network.

Puratos (Buckingham, Bucks) recently ran a series of focus groups, looking at what consumers want and expect from their local baker this Easter, and found significant demand exists for simple goods that deliver a more indulgent eating experience.

Like the first daffodils of spring, Easter is a time when the creative skills of Slattery’s in Manchester really bloom. The chocolatier and his team are small and flexible enough to develop new products almost overnight and it’s this approach that has led to innovative takes on old favourites like the Ladies’ Egg pictured here.

Upmarket American bakery brand La Brea – a big hit in the US, with its rustic-style flavours and textures steeped in Europe’s baking traditions – is now making waves in (and to) the UK. Frozen and ferried across the Atlantic to the UK from New Jersey, La Brea Bakery could claim to make some of the best travelled loaves on the planet.

I felt a particular sadness when I heard about M Firkin, with a chain of shops across the West Midlands, having to call in the administrators. It was always inspiring to hear how the family firm, which is even older than British Baker, had grown from humble beginnings to become a 53-shop craft bakery business.

Marks & Spencer is boosting its Simply Food top up and takeaway chain, with the £38 million purchase of 28 Iceland stores. The acquisition, is due to complete in March, with stores rebranded by August, giving M&S 171 Simply Food shops.